trader joe's top 10



about jason

focused on finding those wines that deliver great value to the wallet and the palate

the rating system

two tiered — one on the value end and another for those that I am expecting quite a bit more from...

Grape Madness Championship Game: Bodega Norton vs. Chateau Chevalier

And then there were 2 bottles left standing. Tonight one of them goes home a champion, another faced with always remembering how close they came. The competitors are (3) 2007 Bodega Norton Malbec ($8) hailing from Cost Plus World Market vs. (1) 2004 Chateau Chevalier Napa Cabernet ($15) which emerged from the Trader [...]

Grape Madness Round #4: Stephen Vincent vs. Chateau Chevalier

From 32 wines, 4 remain.  Another will be sent home today.  Who will move on?  Today’s show down is between (2) 2006 Stephen Vincent Crimson ($11) hailing from Whole Foods vs. (1) 2004 Chateau Chevalier Napa Cabernet ($15) which calls Trader Joe’s home.
Once again if you need a refresher on the rules you can find [...]

Grape Madness Round #3: Stephen Vincent vs. Castle Rock

The road to the Final Four for the Whole Foods bracket was a show down between (2) 2006 Stephen Vincent Crimson ($11) vs. (2) 2007 Castle Rock Pinot Noir Monterey County ($12).
Once again if you need a refresher on the rules you can find a recap here. The main one to keep in mind [...]

Grape Madness Round #3: Chateau Chevalier vs. Rosenblum

The third round in the Trader Joe’s bracket of the inaugural Grape Madness tourney kicked off with the (1) 2004 Chateau Chevalier Napa Cabernet ($15) vs. (1) 2006 Rosenblum Paso Robles Zin ($16).
Once again if you need a refresher on the rules you can find a recap here. The main one to keep [...]

Grape Madness Round #2: Chateau Chevalier vs. Fetzer

The second round in the Trader Joe’s bracket of the inaugural Grape Madness tourney continues with the (1) 2004 Chateau Chevalier Napa Cabernet ($15) vs. the (3) 2006 Fetzer Valley Oaks Cabernet ($6).
Once again if you need a refresher on the rules you can find a recap here. The main one two keep in [...]

Grape Madness Round #2: Rosenblum vs. Bogle

The second round in the Trader Joe’s bracket of the inaugural Grape Madness tourney kick off with the (1) 2006 Rosenblum Paso Robles Zin ($16) vs. the (2) Bogle Old Vine Zin ($10).
Once again if you need a refresher on the rules you can find a recap here. The main one two keep in [...]

Grape Madness Round #1: Chateau Chevalier vs. Trader Joe’s Coastal Cab

The last game in the inaugural Trader Joe’s bracket of Grape Madness was the (1) 2004 Chateau Chevalier Napa Cabernet ($15) vs. the (4) 2006 Trader Joe’s Coastal Cabernet ($4).
Once again if you need a refresher on the rules you can find a recap here. The main one two keep in mind here, per the [...]

Grape Madness Round #1: Sterling vs. Fetzer

The next showdown in the Trader Joe’s bracket of the inaugural Grape Madness tourney was the (2) 2006 Sterling Central Coast Cabernet ($12) vs. the (3) 2006 Fetzer Valley Oaks Cabernet ($6).
Once again if you need a refresher on the rules you can find a recap here. The main one two keep in mind here, [...]

Grape Madness Round #1: Bogle vs. Ravenswood

The second showdown in the Trader Joe’s bracket of the inaugural Grape Madness tourney was the (2) Bogle Old Vine Zin ($10) vs. the (3) 2006 Ravenswood Vinters Blend Zin ($8).
Once again if you need a refresher on the rules you can find a recap here. The main one two keep in mind here, [...]

Grape Madness Round #1: Rosenblum vs. Old Moon

The first showdown in the Trader Joe’s bracket of the inaugural Grape Madness tourney was the (1) 2006 Rosenblum Paso Robles Zin ($16) vs. the (4) 2006 Old Moon Old Vine Zin ($5)
Before jumping in, if you need a refresher on the rules you can find a recap here. The main one two keep [...]